Cotuit Library Mission
Our Mission
Enhance village life by providing a place where community gathers and all individuals achieve personal growth.
The Cotuit Library is the heart of our village, a place where curiosity, learning, and connection thrive. Every year, we welcome tens of thousands of visitors—some come daily to read the newspaper, others gather to play cribbage. Toddlers dance and sing in storytime, while tweens settle in to tackle their homework. We host informative speakers, craft swaps, first aid training, poetry groups, and more.
At Cotuit Library, everyone belongs. We celebrate all people and all interests, fostering a warm, welcoming space where knowledge and community go hand in hand.
Over the past year, we have:
Welcomed over 38,000 patrons—a remarkable number for a village of just 4,800
Circulated approximately 70,000 books, e-books, and media items
Held over 450 programs with more than 5,100 attendees
The library is more than books—it’s a lifeline. We provide broadband internet access and digital literacy classes to bridge the digital divide, ensuring our community stays informed, connected, and empowered. Whether you need help navigating the Libby app, catching a bus to Boston, enjoying a cup of coffee, or discovering your next great read, Cotuit Library is here for you.
Each day, Cotuit Library opens its doors to all, welcoming individuals of every background, ability, and circumstance. As one of the last truly free public spaces, libraries play a vital role in fostering lifelong learning, digital access, and strong communities. We provide free access to books, e-books, research materials, and technology resources, while also advocating for literacy, education, and public engagement. We recognize the deep connection between literacy and civic participation, education and leadership, and we strive to empower our community through knowledge, connection, and digital inclusion.
Cotuit Library is proud to be part of a long tradition of public libraries as pillars of education and community service. Today, libraries are about more than books—they are hubs of learning, technology, creativity, and cultural engagement. In addition to offering free books, periodicals, and digital resources, we provide:
Educational programs and speaker events
Technology workshops and one-on-one digital literacy support
Children’s storytime, movement classes, and early literacy programs
Board games and social groups
Local pickup and delivery services for homebound patrons
More than just a place to read, Cotuit Library is a dynamic center for learning, digital access, and community connection—a welcoming space where everyone belongs.
Honoring our Legacy
Stewardship of our Building and Grounds
Our elegant historical building is an asset to our library and the community. As stewards of this beloved public space, we are responsible for upkeep and upgrades to ensure that our building is well cared for, and that our patrons are safe, comfortable, and enjoy using the library. It is important that we anticipate and respond to emerging and expanding uses of libraries so that we can continue to be the “heart of the village.”
Cotuit Library’s first permanent home was in the current entrance room, a former schoolhouse built in 1830 and acquired for the library in 1894. Through the years, notable expansions have allowed the collection to grow. In 1901, renowned architect Guy Lowell created the current Children’s Room. While our distinctive Main Street-facing facade served as the main entrance for many years, in 1963 the library expanded again with a design by Richard Gallagher, creating what is our current reading room and downstairs fiction and non-fiction collection. In 1977, following a gift from the Kirkman family, Cotuit Library added a final addition designed by Philip Minervino. Known today as the Kirkman Extension, or the Art Room, this popular space is used daily for meetings and gatherings.
Cotuit Library’s architecture is a physical manifestation of our mission. Our growth over the years has created more opportunities for us to serve our community, but our building and grounds need preservation, care, and thoughtful reimagining to ensure we continue to provide the best space— and place— for people to gather. As we move into the next 150 years we need your help preserving and upgrading this village treasure.
Cultivating Community
Enhancing the Social Wellbeing of our Friends and Neighbors
As some of the last truly free places in our society for people to gather, libraries have become skilled weavers of a healthy and sustainable cultural fabric. We are institutions that not only offer a wide range of unbiased, diverse books and materials, but we also enhance, advocate for, and support the people and communities in which we exist. Cotuit Library acts as a connector, assisting our friends and neighbors in finding the resources they need— whether that’s free internet access, one-on-one technology help, or even scheduling a vaccine appointment. We offer book clubs, crafting sessions, lectures, community-focused social events and more. In this digital age, we make sure that people in our community have what they need to stay socially and emotionally connected.
In today’s rapidly changing social and technological environments, we must ensure that Cotuit Library provides responsive, relevant programs and services to our friends and neighbors. Consider supporting Cotuit Library through a sponsored lecture, music, or program series, or become a sustaining donor and help us expand our services and materials. Your support will allow us to continue to be a vibrant community connector for Cotuit.
Inspiring Leadership
Ensuring Quality and Access for Future Generations
High-quality, diverse books and materials are basic building blocks for learning, at all ages. Now more than ever, we need to preserve access to all information for our youngest and future generations.
During the last two years, libraries across the country have come under scrutiny for providing materials that represent a range of viewpoints. According to the American Library Association, the number of library book challenges (attempts to remove or restrict library materials) in Massachusetts quadrupled between 2021 and 2022, and continued to rise in 2023. Libraries like Cotuit are some of the last institutions in our society that open their doors wide and remain free for everyone while ensuring access to these essential resources. Without increased forward-looking support, the basic services and materials that we provide could be increasingly at risk. With your help, over time, we dream of building up an endowment so we don’t have to devote 50 to 80% of our time to fundraising to pay this month’s bills, and instead can focus on the core of what we do for our visitors and the community.
Consider joining our Giving Society or making a legacy gift to equip future generations to become our future leaders.